DAVID PATTON

PATTON David Wilson Patton, LTC, USArmy, Ret, died 18 Jun 2012, 78 years old, in El Paso, TX, beloved
husband of Elvira Zavala-Patton whom he married 13 June 1975, in San Antonio, TX, on what he
always called the happiest day of his life. Born 11 Aug 1933 in England, to Anne W. Patton, sister of
General George S Patton of WWII. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake High School in 1951; the
United States Military Academy at West Point in 1955 with a BS in Engineering and a commission as
an Infantry 2LT, the Airborne School, Special Forces Qualification Course, Army Staff College, and
CalState Bakersfield with MBA Business Administration in 1983. He was a member of the United
States Rifle Team; served in Korea, Vietnam, Germany, Panama and Guatemala; he commanded in
the California State Military Reserve and the Texas State Guard. While in the military he earned
numerous awards and citations, the most prominent being: the Silver Star, two Bronze Stars w/V
Device w/3 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit Medal
w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Medal, Purple Heart Medal,
Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Services Commendation
Medal, Joint Chiefs Services Command Medal, Armed Forces Medal 2nd Award, Vietnam Campaign
Medal w/60 Device, Korea Defense Service Medal, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Master
Parachutist Badge, Expert Rifleman Badge, Excellence in Competition Badge; California
Commendation Medal w/Oak Leaf Cluster, California Medal of Merit, California Service Medal;
Texas Distinguished Service Medal, National Guard Faithful Service Medal; Texas State Guard
Service Medal. Gallantry Cross w/Palm, Gallantry Cross w/Silver Star, Vietnam Service Medal w/5
Campaign Stars, Vietnam Staff Service Medal; Al Merito Militar 2nd Class Medal (CDR USMILGP-
Guatemala), Guatemalan Master Parachutist and Peruvian Parachutist Wings, He was also a Knight
Commander of Polonia Restituta.
He was preceded in death by his mother and brother Lt Cdr Peter W. Patton, USN (Dael), children
Michael, John and Nicole; also Kenneth W. Britton & Annie G. Reed. Col Patton is survived by wife
Elvira, children Patti Bader (Jeff), Charles (Teresa), Tinta Martin (Darrin), David W Patton II, Anne
W Patton-LaRoque (Lesley); grandchildren: Bayley, Brandon (Lindsay), Bretton Varn; Shelby and
Graham Patton; Nicholas (Ashley), Taylor (Tim), Sydney Patton (Truong); Chelsea (Austin), Parker,
Tarrin Martin; Justin Campbell Patton; Valeria and Catalina Villalobos; Paul David, James and Alexa
Patton LaRoque. GG children Jocelyn, Jeffery Varn, Jax Varn; Kairon Nguyen, Austin Ringelberg,
Virginia, Lucille Holien and numerous nieces and nephews, Army buddies, and caring friend John
Mahoney. He cared about many things, but most of all, his family and his country. A great storyteller,
he regaled his childen and friends with anecdotes about West Point, told stories about his Uncle
George singing commercial ditties while shaving at his mother's house, about his mother Nita and
brother discussing his wearing his ivory-handled revolvers too close to vital body parts; humorous
childhood stories about he and Peter freezing a fish, boiling the fish, igniting flatus and suffering the
consequences. He is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, philantropist, athlete
and a leader who cared for his troops. His interests ranged from sailing, genealogy, model aviation,
the El Paso Railroad Society, Mexican Folkloric dancing, to volunteering with Victim Services of El
Paso Police Department. A life member of the American Legion and the Benavides-Patterson All
Airborne Chapter of El Paso, he enjoyed being with his brothers-in-arms. Proud of his Scottish
heritage, he belonged to Clan Munro on his mother's side.
He was the last of the Knights of Old.
Visitation: Tuesday, June 26, 2012 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Mt Carmel Funeral Home. Rosary:
June 26, 2012 at 7:00 PM at Mt. Carmel. Funeral Mass: June 27, 2012 9:30 AM. St Mark Catholic
Church. Interment: Fort Bliss National Cemetery.